WORRIED residents of Sandymoor have started a petition after learning that a proposed custody centre could be built within yards of their homes.

WORRIED residents of Sandymoor have started a petition after learning that a proposed custody centre could be built within yards of their homes.

The police holding centre, which could include around 30 cells, would take in suspects arrested in Runcorn, Widnes and Warrington, and would be manned by civilians in order to put police officers back on the streets.

But residents say their safety will be put at risk and their homes devalued if the proposal goes ahead.

'We've already got 250 names on a petition against this, and we have been leafletting the area,' said Kym Riley, one of the founders of an action group set up to oppose the custody suite.

'It just seems crazy to build this next to a new housing estate and so close to an existing one.

'This is really going to affect our property prices - nobody wants to move to a bad area and this will push our crime rates up.

'There will be people being released at all times of the day and night, and to say they will be able to get public transport home is a joke,' she added. 'There are only about six or seven buses a day and the service is non existent on Sundays. Besides, the fact that they'll be getting the bus is no comfort to us because our children also get buses. They'll be at the bus stop wondering who it is sitting next to them.' Another angry resident, Andy Walsh said: 'Why couldn't they put it further back in Manor Park? There are hundreds of units there but they've decided to put it right near the new homes that are being built and by the subway under the Expressway that goes straight into a residential area.'

Now the pair are urging other concerned residents to put their objections in writing before the closing date of September 4.